The most cheerful time of the year comes with
great food, family time and public holidays. For the adults of Australia, it
also comes with its fair share of stress.

But it doesn’t have to be that way!

At The Christmas Elves, we’re always busy in
the run-up to Christmas, making sure we get everything prepared for homes
around Australia. There are some rules we stick to, to ensure we don’t get
overwhelmed by the festive activities.

Mix-up
your Traditions

Is there something you do every year that
causes nothing but a headache? Don’t keep traditions just for the sake of it,
especially if they’re taking up too much money and energy. Speak to the family
to get their perspective on your annual rituals and decide between yourselves
if you could do without any of them. If the kids have outgrown any traditions
and you find yourself trying to convince them each year, it may be time to find
a new habit.

Focus
on the Important Things

This time of year is about spending time with
people you love, doing the things you enjoy doing. So, take a step back and
find ways to spend more time with the family, instead of doing those mundane
tasks you think you have to be doing.
Do you really need to scrub the house so much before everyone arrives? Do you
have to send out that huge pile of Christmas cards? Take time to relax and
select a small group of people to send cards to instead.

Stop
Stressing about Money

Christmas can cause many parents to go into a
financial panic. It comes with its fair share of expenses, like food, gifts and
decorating the home. To ease the strain, spread the cost and begin your
Christmas shopping early, so the wallet doesn’t take a hit all at once. You
should also take advantage of Afterpay options, so you can
pay for your items at a time and schedule to suit you.

Have
Fun!

Rip up that to-do list and let yourself relax.
Appreciate these special moments you have with the family, as you’re trimming
the tree or baking gingerbread cookies. Once January comes back around, you’ll
probably be back at work, so take a deep breath and release the stress you may
be feeling. Take regular breaks from Christmas shopping and other tasks, like
heading outside for a walk in the sun.

When we think of tinsel nowadays, we think of
a lightweight, shimmery decoration that wraps around our Christmas trees. At
The Christmas Elves, we can’t get enough shiny tinsel! It’s an affordable staple to our
festive decor, and it really makes an impact.But, was it always such a good idea? If you
look back through history, it turns out [...]

The tree is up, LED lights are sparkling
around your window panes and your Elf on the Shelf has been suitably naughty
all month. The big man in the red suit visited your home last night, which
means the time has come to complete the look with Christmas table decorations.There’s more to it than just festive table
runners, too.Transform [...]

This side of the equator, we don’t get to
experience those Winter Wonderland scenes Hollywood movies are always showing
us. While a white Christmas seems serene and aesthetically beautiful, let’s not
forget all the reasons why Aussies do Christmas just as well as our neighbours
across the pond.Here are the reasons The Christmas Elves love
our summer festivities. What do [...]

Decorating the home at Christmas is a
time-honoured tradition. From hooking wreaths throughout to the finishing
touches like the star on the tree, the run-up to the main event brings families
together through nostalgia and excitement.So, how did people from years gone by
celebrate Christmas Day? Decorations have evolved throughout the decades, but
some elements have demonstrated true staying power. [...]

Lighten up your home and neighbourhood by
getting creative with outdoor Christmas
rope lights. The holidays are a time for fun -
and not just for the little ones. Play around with outdoor LED lights for your
own bright Christmas surprise.
While traditional-style lights, such as
icicles and fairy lights, can still bring Christmas cheer, rope lights offer a
new possibility [...]

As we travel all over the world looking for the newest and most unique Christmas decorations we took the opportunity to visit Bronners CHRISTmas Wonderland.We travelled to the largest Christmas Store in the world ... as part of our search for new and exciting Christmas decorations for 2018!We drove down the snow covered 25 Christmas Lane [...]

Christmas costume party coming up and no idea
what to wear? Whether you’ve received an invitation for a work or family party,
you can really dress to impress at this time of year.Knowing where to begin is the hard part.
Luckily, we’ve found some of the best sources of inspiration that are sure to
kick-start your creative ideas, so [...]

Nothing beats the breath-taking, Home
Alone-esque magic of outdoor fairy lights at Christmastime! When the night sky
is dotted with twinkling lights, that’s when we can truly feel like Christmas
has descended.Add some LED lights, rope lights, icicle lights
and any other kind of Christmas fairy lights that take your fancy - but be safe
while you do it. Follow [...]

When it comes to buying Christmas trees, the
Australian nation is divided. While some people are sticking with more
traditional, real Christmas trees, others are increasingly moving towards their
faux counterpart.
Let’s face it; when your tree is glittering
with lights and glistening with tinsel, it brings a magic into your home you
don’t get throughout the rest of the year. [...]